Machine for continuous finishing of textile material



n 1965 LEON-HERBERT VON ONDARZA ETAL MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS FINISHING OFTEXTILE MATERIAL Filed Aug. 15, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 1965LEON-HERBERT VON ONDARZA ETAL MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS FINISHING OFTEXTILE MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 15, 1963 June 15, 1965LEON-HERBERT VON ONDARZA ETAL3,188:837

- MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS FINISHING OF TEXTILE MATERIAL Filed Aug. 15,1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 1965 LEON-HERBERT VON ONDARZA ETAL MACHINEFOR CONTINUOUS FINISHING OF TEXTILE MATERIAL Filed Aug. 15, 1963 5Sheets-fpfheet 4 June 1965 LEON-HERBERT VON ONDARZA ETAL MACHINE FORCONTINUOUS FINISHING OF TEXTILE MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 15,1963 United States Patent 3,188,837 MACHINE FOR CGNTINUOUS FINEHRNG 0FTEXTILE MATERHAL Leon-Herbert von Ondarza, Monchen-Gladbach, and

Gustav Beckers, Rheydt, Germany, assignors to A.

Monforts Maschiuenfahrilr, Monchen-Gladbach, Germany, a German firmFiled Aug. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 302,235 Claims. (Cl. 68-8) 7 Our inventionrelates to a continuously operating machine for the heat treatment orother processing of Webs or arrays of textile material, for examplewoven and knitted fabrics, felts, non-woven materials such as arrays ofwarp and the like. Employed for such heat treatment or other finishingprocesses is preferably steam or hot air with or without addition ofgaseous, liquid or finely distributed solid chemicals.

In one of its specific, though not exclusive aspects our inventionrelates to steaming or decatizing machines.

It is an object of our invention to provide textile finishing machineryof the above-mentioned type that permits operating at a much highertravelling speed of the material being processed than heretoforereliably applicable.

Another object of our invention is to aiford an automatic orfull-automatic operation of such machines and to permit designing asingle machine of this type for such a large output as to take care of aproduction heretofore requiring several machines, particularly fordecatizing operations.

Still another object of our invention is to combine an increasedproduction per unit time with a high degree of processing, for exampledecatizing, uniformity without imposing exacting demands with respect toskill or attention upon the attending personnel.

To achieve these objects, as well as the more specific objects andadvantages set forth hereinafter, we provide,

, according to our invention, two perforated processing cylinders uponeach of which the textile material to be processed in wound for acertain length and thereafter unwound in intermittent operation, theunwinding of material from each cylinder taking place while the othercylinder is being driven for winding-up operation so that theperformance of the two cylinders is complementary and results in acontinuous or substantially continuous travel of the material as it isbeing processed, the steam or air or other processing medium being blownor sucked through the perforations of the cylinders and through thematerial wound upon them. We preferably provide the machine with endlesscover webs of suitable cloth mate- I rial, for example thick cottoncloth, covering the material on one or both sides. These cover webs passthrough the machine along a given endless path but are sufficientlylonger than the path defined by suitable rollers or other guide means,so as to permit the web-covered material to be folded as it is beingplaced into winding-up relation toone cylinder and subsequently intowinding-up relation to the second cylinder.

According to still another feature of our invention the devices forattaching the web-covered material to the respective cylinders comprisea fold-forming edge that extends parallel to the cylinder axis and istemporarily displaced toward a cylinder, thus forming a fold and placingit into contact with the cylinder then rotating in the winding updirection. The machine further comprises gripper and holding means whichthen cause the web-covered fold of material to be wound upon thecylinder; and we further connect the various machine components withcontrol equipment for performing the necessary switching and reversingoperations in the required sequence. Preferably the same control systemserves to operate the drives for the cylinders and other components aswell as for admitting the processing medium to the cylinders.

According to further features of our invention, the above-mentionedcontrol system comprises pulse transmitters for causing the machine tooperate automatically. Such pulse transmitters, generally known fortextile fabrieating machines, may be of mechanical, electrical,hydraulical, optical or mixed types.

Further features of our invention will be described presently withreference to decatizing machines. Such a machine according to theinvention comprises the following essential components:

(a) At least two decatizing cylinders or drums. Each pair of suchcylinders is journalled for rotation about respective stationary axeswithin a steam box, and each cylinder is selectively rotatable in one orthe other direction, or the appertaining drive is used only for drivingthe drum in one direction, whereas the reverse rotation is imparted tothe drum only by the pull of the travelling Web-covered material whilethe drive runs idle or is sub jected to braking.

(b) Each of the two decatizing cylinders is provided with a fold-formingadvancing device which passes the web-covered material to the decatizingcylinder.

(c) A gripper and holding device is provided at each decatizing cylinderwhich seizes the web-covered material from the advancing device andholds it until a fold turn is wound upon the cylinder.

(d) Control devices for the cylinder drives, for actuation of theabove-mentioned advancing devices, grippers and holding devices, and ifdesired also for controlling the steam and air valves.

(e) One or more driven cooling cylinders which are contacted by thematerial after it leaves the decatizing portion of the machine proper.

For securing a particularly good decatizing action, it is preferable topass the textile material between two cover webs through the machine.For this purpose, the machine according to the invention is providedwith two, preferably endless, cover webs. Since the length of eachendless web is larger than the length of the path defined by theappertaining guide means of the machine, two storage areas or devicesfor the respective web-s are provided. The mate rial to be decatized isaccompanied by the two cover webs from the point where the materialenters into the machine up to the point where it enters into the coolingzone, or if desired the webs also pass with the material through thecooling zone. The webs are seized and held together with the textilematerial by the above-mentioned advancing devices, grippers and holdingdevices.

During decatizing, the textile material is wound upon the cylinders andthereafter unwound therefrom while remaining located between the twocover webs; a similar winding system, employing several beams, beingknown as such for the wet processing of textile materials, for examplefor dyeing, bleaching and sizing.

When employing two cover webs in a machine according to the invention,the one advancing device in action at a time, causes its folder edge tomove tangentially toward the decatizing cylinder and thus advances thethreelayer assembly of the web-covered material against the cylinder.The advancing edge then forms a fold with the result that the winding onthe decatizing drum is started with six layers.

This starting end of the winding is pressed against the decatizing drumby the above-mentioned gripper, whereafter the advancing device with thefold-forming edge returns to its inactive position. The above-mentionedholding device then keeps thesix layers against the cylinder peripheryso that it is entrained until the cylinder has completed a fullrotation. Thereafter the gripper and rotating cylinder continues thewinding operation.

7 holding devices are removed from the cylinder, and the When thewindingthus produced has reached a given;

adjustable thickness, determined 'for example by means of a thicknesssensor, the control system performs a v switching operation which startsthe driveol? the second cylinder in the winding-up direction andsimultaneously switches the first drum to idling or, if desired, tobraking,

whereafter the thickness sensor is switched oil or rendered L r a r r r.10 Now the second advancing device is shifted toward the i ineffective.

second decatizing cylinder so that the folder edge again places asixlayer fold against the cylinder. Thereafter the same operation isrepeated as described above'with reference to the first cylinden; Assoonas the told is seized by the gripper, the advancing device is automati Vcally withdrawn to, inactive position.

- As the second decatizing drum is rotating in the winddrum iscompletely unwound, an automatically operating 7 switching deviceuncouples the second drum from its drive or disconnects the seconddrive. This operation is. preferably initiated by means of aphotoelectric cell which 4. i a' steaming zone 1 and a cooling zone 2.The steaming zone is'located between box-shaped sheet-metal structures3, 4 thatjointly form a housing in which two decatizing cylinders and 6are rotatable in stationary bearings.

The cooling zone 2 is open to the ambient atmosphere for good venting ofthe cooling air. Located near the bottom and top of the cooling'zone arerespective horizontal'members 3b and 4bof preferably perforated sheetmetahwire mesh'or metal grating; The two cylinders 5 and 6 areperforated over their entire periphery and equipped 'with hollow shafts5b and 617 respectively through which the processing medium, such assteam, is

i supplied to the interior of the cylinders in order to issue from theperforations and through the textile material wound upon the cylinders.A larger cylinder 7, likewise perforated and provided with a hollowshaft 7b, is rotatably mounted in stationary bearings within the coolingzone and supplied with cooling air during thebperation -of the machine.7 Y p vices for securing to. the respective rollers the material.

1 The two decatizihg cylinders 5 and 6cooperate with de to be wound uponthem. These devices comprise two pusher members 8 and 9,-(FlGSu1 to.6).The pusher member b'has a fold-forming edge along the top of a respondsto the end of the winding coming from the first cylinder and which actsupon electromechanical or other electrical devices to eifect theswitching just mentioned.

Thereafter the above-described operating cycle is re-.

peated as many times as may be needed for completely processing thetextile material.

The necessary decatizingtime can be preset by'correspending choice or" agreater or smaller travel speed as determined by the rotating speed ofthedecatizing cylinders, or by providing a second or more cylinder pairswith the appertaining auxiliary components describedl1 above.

lowed by cooling of the textile material; the invention thisis'preterably done by means of one As mentioned, the decatizirig"operationproperis f0l-' According to ridge. piece '81 (FIG. .5) whichextends parallel to the axis of the. cylinder 5 and is mounted on twolateral leg 'portionsdz by means of wliichthe' pusher member 8 is guidedon'the stationary machine structure on a guideway '(shown by broken'linesiat'85 inFIG. 1) tangential to thedrum 5. One of the legs 32 ofpusher member S is driven by means of a gear 83 (FIG; 6) meshing with ascrew thread of leg 32 and also meshing with a worm :84 connected with adrive m-otor MS (FIGS/6, '7) :When the drivemotor M3 is operated in'onerunning direction, the pusher member 8 movesfrom its inactive positionaccording to FIG.

cylinder 5.; a

j The'pusher member 9 for the cylinder 6 is analogously provided with afold-forming edge on a transverse bridge piece'y9l that, extendsparallel to the axis of cylinder 6 and is mounted between laterallegs 92(FIGS). When the pusher member 9is driven from the appertaining m0- Ytor M9 through; connecting gears 93, 94, the bridge piece In this casethe cover webs are guided into respective web storage spaces when thetextile material enters into the ccoling'zone; whereafter the storedwebs passback to the decatizing cylinders. However, if desired, both orselectively only the upper or the lower cover web can be passed throughthe cooling cylinders before returning them to the web st'or-' g agespaces.

The above-mentioned and further objects, advantages.

and features of our invention, said'features'bein'g setforth withparticularity in the claims annexed hereto, will be apparentfrom, andwill be described in, the" following with reference to an embodiment ofan automatic decatizor more perforated cooling cylinders traversed byair. 91 moves upward in a tangential, direction toward the Thetextilematerial can be cooled without contact with" the above mentionedcover webs.

cylinderqo until the motor M9 is reversed to return the pusher member 9tojthe inactive position show-nin FIG..5;

The two decatizing cylinders 5 and :6 are further pro vided with Vrespective-gripper devices 21 and 2 2, and with respective groups ofholder segments 23 and 24 (FIGS. 1 to 6). l

V The gripper device 21' is essentially an endless elastic belt"trainedrabout two'rollers whose respective axes ar spaced ,8. fixeddistance from each other, the entire 'belt assembly; being. rotatableabout the axis 211 (FIG. 6) of enact the tworollersc Movement of thegripper device 21 about the pivot .axis 211' iscontr-olled by ahydraulic driveD-Zl which comprises a hydraulic cylinder with a pistonspring-biased'in the downward direction to normally hold the gripperdevice 21away'from the cylinder 5.

' FIG. 1 is a schematic and partlyfsectionalside elevation.ofthemachine;v a I V FIGSQZ, 3 and 4'show schematically components of V the samemachine in-three dilfe'rent operating conditions respectively. e a

FIG. Sis-laschematit: front view of the machine, seen from the enteringside of the. material to be processed,f 4

various machine parts being omitted.

,FIG. 6 is anexplanatory diagram representingthc drive and controlcomponents of .the machine;'and

"D22 under control by an electrically operable valve V2 2.

FIG. 7 is a schematic 'circuitdiagram' interconnecting the controlcomponents of the/machine as shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 1, the illustrated machine comprises An electricallycontrolledfvalve V21 FIGS. 6, '7) permits applying hydraulic pressure-tothereby move the gripper device 21 upward and place the endless beltincontact with the cylinder 5. As a result, when the pusher member Shasadvanced textile material againstthe drum,the

beltof the gripper-device 21 will force the material against thecylinder 5 so that the material is entrained, by the cyl- 1 inder andwound about it. i

The gripper device 22 for cylinder 6 is of the same dc sign, thecorresponding.endless belt assembly being mov- The holder segmentsZSan'd'24. are elongated'troughshaped structures which extend over theentire axial length .ofeach cylinder. Theholder segments Z3'and 24 aredis- 5 downward in a tangential direction; to

tributed about the periphery of each drum. Normally they are in inactiveposition away from the adjacent cylinder. As shown in FIG. 6,representing only one of the segments 23 and 24 for each cylinder, thesegments are driven by hydraulic drives D23, D24 under control byrespective electrically controlled valves V23 and V24. The hydraulicdrives are designed and operative in the same manner as described abovewith reference to the hydraulic actuator D21.

The performance of the above-described groups of devices for attachingthe textile material to the respective 'decatizing drums is controlledby sensing means exemplitied in the illustrated embodiment by thicknessfeelers 28, .38 (FIGS. 1, 6, 7) which respond electrically when theamout of textile material wound upon a decatizing cylinder has reached apredetermined thickness, and also by photocells 29, 3% with appertaininglight sources 2%, 39b (FIGS. 1, 6).

It will be understood that the above-described worm gears for displacingthe pusher members 8 and 9 can be substituted by a rack on each pushermember and a spur gear meshing with the rack, or by any other suitablemechanism for displacing the pusher member; and it will also beunderstood that in lieu of the hydraulic drives for the gripper devicesand holder segments any other suitable drives, for example reversibleelectric gear motors, may be used.

The fabric or other textile material to be decatized is illustrated by adot-and-dash line and denoted by 14. It

enters into the machine at the left (FIG. 1) between guide rollers 15b,15c and passes between two endless cover webs 16 and 17 whose endlesspath within the machinery is determined by a number of guide rollersincluding roller 15b or .150. The length of each endless cover web isgreater than the travel path determined by the guide rollers in order topermit the web to be folded and wound in the manner describedhereinafter. The excess length of web material is collected inrespective storage spaces 12 and 13 which are located on top of theabove-mentioned support members 311 and 4b below and above the coolingcylinder '7.

'Starting from the entrance gap 15 of the machine located between twoguide rollers 15b and 15c, the textile material 14- is covered on bothsides by the respective I cover webs 1-6 and 17 at least up to theentrance point of the cooling zone 2. After termination of the coolingoperation, the textile material is carried out of the machine by thelower cover web 16 or, if desired, by a separate endless conveyor belt,in order to be laid off, or o be wound upon a take-up roller.

The decatizing process in the illustrated machine according to theinvention takes place as follows.

The oncoming textile material is placed in front of the entrance gap 15upon the lower cover sheet 16 coming from the storage space 12. it isthen seized by the up er cover web 17 entering from above into thesteaming zone. At this stage the We cover webs are wound upon the lowerdecatizing cylinder 5 up to a given thickness detemined by the selectedposition of the thickness feel-er 38, this thickness being preferably sochosen that the storage spaces 12 and 13 contain only a slightadditional length of cover-web material. When the machine is put intooperation, the thickness feeler 38 is automatically disconnected orrender-ed inactive. (FIG. 1 does not represent the just describedinitiation of the operation by introducing the textile material 14 intothe entrance gap 15 but relates to a subsequent stage of operation inwhich the material has already passed into the machine.)

After the material 14- is seized by the two cover webs 16 and 17 thedrive of the upper decatizing cylinder 6 is switched on, the lowerdecatizing cylinder 5 is set for idling and is preferably braked toprevent a too rapid unwinding. At the beginning of rotation of cylinder5, the pusher member 9 is shoved tangentially upward against theperforated peripheral surface of the upper cylinder 6. The fold-formingedge takes the textile material and the two cover sheets along and thusforms a tight fold 18 (FIG. 1) due to the doubling of the layersconsisting of the material 14 and the two cover sheets 16 and 17.Consequently, the fold reaching the cylinder 6 consists of six layers.

The creased starting portion is seized by the gripper device 22 which,as mentioned, consists preferably of an endless elastic belt and isdisplaceable toward the cylinder 6 either by pivoting motion asdescribed above or by parallel displacement. The pusher member 9 is thenautomatically returned to the starting position. The holder segments 24,now pressing against the drum take care that the assembly of material,consisting of six layers, remains in contact with, and entrained by, thecylinder 6 until the cylinder has completed a full rotation and becomescapable of continuing the winding operation without the assistance ofthe holder segments. The gripper device 22 and the holder segments 24are then lifted off the cylinder. The cylinder 6 continues the windingoperation until the cover webs 16 and 17 are completely unwound from thecylinder 5, this condition being shown in FIG. 2.

Now the lower photocell 3% is no longer obscured by the material butilluminated from the light source 3%. This causes the two cylinders 5and 6 to reverse their respective directions of rotation and the pushermember 8 to be displaced downwardly against the lower cylinder 5. Thisis illustrated in FIG. 3. Simultaneously the gripper device 21 and theholder segments 23 are placed against the lower cylinder 5.

Now the web-covered material is wound onto the lower cylinder 5 in thesame manner as described above with reference to the upper cylinder 6.During this winding operation, as well as durling the preceding windingopera tion on the upper cylinder 6, steam passes through the perforatedcylinders and the material. The decatizing operation while the materialis being wound upon the cylinder 5 and unwound off the cylinder 6continues until the upper cylinder 6 is empty. At this moment the upperphotocell 29 becomes illuminated from its light source 2% and responds,thus causing the upper cylinder 6 to again commence a winding-upoperation during which the web-covered material is being unwound fromthe lower cylinder 5. These operations are periodically repeated.

During the above-described winding and unwinding operations, changingcontinually between the two docatizing cylinders, a new length oftextile material 14 is continuously drawn into the machine through theentrance gap 15. Due to the fact that the turn located inward on onecylinder will form the outward turn on the other cylinder, the textilematerial 14 is uniformly decat-ized on its entire length without anystoppage and in full-automatic performance.

The textile material, after having thus passed once over both cylinders,enters into the cooling zone and is guided about the cooling cylinder 7before it leaves the machine. The cooling operation can be performedwith or without cover webs. schematically indicated in FIG. 1 are fourdifferent modes of thus using the machine:

(a) Full lines: The textile material 14 as well as the two cover sheets16 and 17 are passed about the cooling cylinder 7. All three layers aretraversed by the cooling air supplied through the perforated coolingcylinder. The lower cover web 16 serves as a carrier belt for passingthe processed material to the lay-off position at the outlet end of themachine.

(b) Broken line 25: The upper cover web 17, after passing through thesteaming zone 1, is passed directly to the storage space 13.Consequently, only the'tex-tile material 14 and the lower web 16 aresubjected to cooling. in this mode of operation, too, the web 16 servesas a carrier belt for the processed material leaving the machine.

' Dotted line 26: The lower coverwcbld, after contacting the coolingcylinder. 7 along a small portion of the periphery, is lifted oii" thecylinder. and passed through" guide rollers27 to the storage space '12.The

upper cover web 17 remains on'the' cooling cylinder together with thetextile material 14 and is'only thereafter passed to the storage space13.

' (d) Lines 25-and 26: If fastest'possible cooling of V the processedmaterial 1 4 is desired',-the upper cover web 17 is guided along line 25and the lower web 16 along line 26 to the respective storagcs so thatneither web is subjected to-cooling.

When operating in accordance with modes (c) and,

(d) it is preferable to provide a carrier belt from the.

cooling cylinder 7 to the terminal roller 3d at which the :processedmaterial 14 leaves the machine.

As mentioned above, the. gripper devices 21', 2 2 and scribed arepreferably mounted in a control cabinet (not shown).

The drive motor M for the decatizing cylinder 5 and the drives and.actuators MS, V21, V33 of the accessory devices for this cylinder arevanalogously controlled by a main contactor 41* and a reversingcontactor 53 under control by the'upper thickness feeler andthe lowerphotocell. 39. These control'components are preferably mountedinanother-cabinet (not shown). The measuring wheel36 is shown connectedwith a contact mechanism through aciutch 362. normally spring-biased toopen position and controllableto close by means of an electrolrnag'net361;, The contact mechanism comprises a cam 363 driven tromthe measuringwheel Flo-when the clutch 362 is closed and acting upon two normallyopen conmasses and 366 to temporarily close the contacts when 1 themechanism has performeda single full revolution the holder segments 23,24 are Withdrawn from the appertaining decatizing cylinder after onefullturn of a winding is completed.- For controlling 1 the gripper andholder devices automatically, some means rnust" be providedtoi' initiatethe return.motion when a full turn is completed.

Ifdesired, a timing switch can be used for this purpose.

Thiswouldrequire setting the timing switch to 'a different timing periodwhenever the travel speed of the material in the machine is changed' Itis preferable, therefore, to I provide a pulse transmitter which adaptsitself: to any changes in travel speed of the material, as is the casewith the measuring wheel shown at 36 in FIG. 1.. The measuring wheelengages the material and operates a counter and switch mechanismadjustedto the length of. textile material that corresponds to a singlefull turn of the cylinder 5on6. The measuring wheel 36 can be mounted atany desired location of the'rnachine where the wheel is 'en gageablewith the textile material 14, or it may also be mounted for engagementWith-01160]? the cover'webs 16,

.17. The measuring wheel :or the mechanism controlled thereby isinitiated under. control by one of the thickness feelers 28, 38 or oneof the photocells 29, 39. After the:

above-mentioned length of material has passed by the measuring mechanismcauses the drive of the pusher. 7

members 8, 9 and the dri've for'the auxiliary components 22 to 24 to beswitched to return motion so that they are] lifted away from therespective rollers.w The measuringwheel 36 need be provided at only onelocationyin the j machine, for example near the entering'gap as shown inPEG. 1 and preferably in the vicinity of one of the side 7 walls oftheframe structure. v y

An example of an electric control system for obtaining theabove-described coactive performanceof the'machine' or any other numberof adjustedrevolutions corresponding to a given length of material 14measuredjby the measuring wheel as explained in' the foregoing;

if he system of FIG. '7 is further shown equipped-with steam admittancevalves SV5 andSVd which are assumed to be spring-biased to closedposition and are'elcctromagnetically opened under control by the Vrespective switches S5 and S6 to then pass steam through the hollowshafts into the respective decatizin" cylinders 5 and d. The switches S5and 13 mayclosetogether with the main switch MS. 7 I l a l As will beunderstood from the followingwhenever the drive motor M6 is inoperationto rotate the cylinder 6, the

motor for cylinder 5 is deenergized and can idle. For

subjecting the cylinder .5 to suidcientfrictional braking to preventoverrunning, an electrically actuated brakeBS is provided whosebrake-applying electromagnet is energizcd as long as the main contactor'itl applies energizing current :to the motor Mil Analogously, the motorM6 for cylinder 6 is provided with a magnetically controlled brake B6which is' energized under control by the contactor 4i as'long as themotor M5 is energized.

FIG. 7 alsoishows two normally open pushbutton con- ;tacts 8M5 and SMofthat permit operating the respective 'IHO'EC-IS MSandMdaswell as theappertaining accessory assemblies for short intervals oftirne,independently of the automatic control performance still to :bedescribed, for

the purpose of preparing or adjusting the machinery.

The functioning of themachinery in accordance with the control system of.FIG.'7 is as follows.

Assume that the textile material 14 is inserted between the twocovcrwebs as described above with reference to components is shown inFIG. 7, the diagram of 1 18.6. serving to assist in identifyingthevarious drives and electric actuators of the system.

'1 he terminals T of the system are connected to a: suits I able sourceof. electric power which is supplied through a main switch MS. This mainswitch preferably consists of a 'contactor that can be closed and openedby means.

of push-buttons located at various places of the machinery.

but not illustrated in the diagram. 'It will also be understood thatconventional protective devices, such asfover load switches interlockconnections between'relays. and. contactors, are also omittedbecauseconventional and not essential to machinery according to theinvention proper.

The motor M7 for driving the cooling cylinder 7 (FIGS.

6, 1) is connected 'tothe power supply through. a control switch S7;Tlds motormaybe switched on and; kept 7 running in the same direction aslong as the machine is in 1 operative condition. The drive motor M6 forthe deoatizing cylinder 6 and-the motor M9- and the electric actuatorsV22 and V2 4 of the devices associated with cylinder 6 are energizedfrom the power supply'under control by 'a' main contactor and a reversing contactor 5% under control by the upper photocell 29 and the lowerthickness feelen 38. The twocontactors and the appertaining amplifier,.4211 relay and other circuit components still tolbe de- FIG; land thatthe machine, is ready to be started. .Then the main switch MS is to beclosed. At this stage the two pusher members 8 and 9 are inthe'inac'tive positions located on respectively opposite sides oftthetravel path of the web-covered material. Consequently, the upperphotocell29 is illuminated from the lightsource Ziib (FIG; 6). Thephotocell 29 (FIG; 7) responds and energizesthrough an amplifier 14201,a 'relay421 which closes its'contact 422,

and thereby energizes the coil 4M ofcontactor it). Thecontactorthencloses its maincontacts W2, 4% thus applying power to themotor M6 and, through the main j contacts 562, 5030i c'ontactor 56, alsoto't he drive motor 1M? of the pusher member Qand thevalve actuators V22and V2410f the. gripper device and bolder sectors for cylinder 6; If abrake switch in'the circuit of thebralte actuator B5 is closed, thebrakeffor'the drive motor M5,

' now deenergized, is'also set'in'operation.' -The'contactor 40 alsocloses a self-holding Contact 434 and, with some 3 62 due. to the factthat its magnet is now energized amass?- 9. through contacts 402 and 44Band contact 507 of inactive contactor t).

As soon as the measuring wheel 36 has measured a length of textilematerial 14 corresponding to a full winding turn of the fold now runningonto the cylinder 6, the contact 365 is closed and energizes the coilSill. of the reversing contactor 58 which now opens its contacts 562,5G3 and closes contacts 594, 5955, thereby reversing the polarity orphase of the current applied to components M9, V22, V24. These drivesand actuators now run in the reverse direction and withdraw the pushermember 9, the gripper device 22 and the holding segments 24 from thedrum 6. If brake B5 was active, it remains active because its magnetdoes not respond to polarity or phase reversal. When the components 9,22 and 2% have reached the original inactive position, the appertainingdrives and actuators may be kept running it suitable slip clutches areprovided, or the circuits may be equipped with limit switches thatdeenergize the individual drive and actuator circuits. At the start ofthe foldforming and winding operation at cylinder 6, namely whencontactor 49 picks up, the steam valve 8V6 is closed by the opening ofcontact 416. But the decatizing operation on cylinder 6 commences assoon as the first turn of material is wound upon cylinder 6, becausethen the steam valve 8V6 is opened in the circuit of contacts 566 and416. If desired, the steam valve 8V6 may also be connected parallel tothe motor M6 so that it commences to admit steam at the moment thecylinder 6 starts rotating.

As soon as the measuring-wheel mechanism has issued the above-describedcontrol pulse by temporary closing of contact 365, this contactmechanism is rendered inactive by the opening of contact 567 incontactor 56 which deenergizes the clutch magnet 361. Consequently, themotor M6 continues rotating the cylinder 6 and the decatizing operationcontinues until the lower cylinder 5 runs empty. When this happens, thelower photocell 3% becomes illuminated from its light source 39b (FIG.6) and energizes, through an amplifier 4212, a relay 425 which closesits contact 426 and thereby completes an energizing circuit for the coil411 of the contactor 41. The relay 425 also opens a contact 427 in theself-holding circuit of contactor 40 and thereby causes this contactorto drop off. Consequently, motor M6 for cylinder 6 is now stopped, andthe brake B5 for motor M5 is released.

As soon as contactor 41 picks up, it closes a selfholding circuit 414and opens another contact 417 in the self-holding circuit of contactor49, thus preventing reenergization of motor M6 and its associatedcomponents as long as the motor M5 is energized. The main contacts 412,413 now energize the motor M5 and cause the contact mechanism of themeasuring wheel 36 to perform another run upon whose termination thecontact 366 energizes the coil 501 of the reversing contactor 51. Inthis manner, the components M8, V21, V23, SVS and B6 are operated in thesame manner as described above for the corresponding accessory devicesof cylinder 6. It will be understood that the circuit of coil 411 forcontactor 41 includes in series the contacts 407 to 423 in the samemanner as the circuit of coil 401 includes the series connection ofcontacts 416 and 427, thus preventing the motor M5 and the associatedcomponents to be energized through contactor 41 as long as the contactor46 for motor M6 has picked up.

The control circuit of steam valve SVS is understood to extend seriallythrough the contacts 407 and 423 of contactor 4t) and relay 421respectively, so that the ad- 1% by opening of the main switch MS. Itwill be understood that automatic opening of switch MS can be providedfor in the event that no further material 14 is supplied, this beingeffected conventionally by photoelectric control, for example.

As explained, it is not necessary to reverse the energizing current formotors M5 and M6. These motors are intermittently switched to run in agiven direction and thereafter remain deenergized, to be unwound by thepull exerted from the other, driven cylinder through the webcoveredmaterial. The idling cylinder is then subjected to sufficient braking tohave the textile material and cover webs remain in contact therewith.The decatizing operation is continued during unwinding operation.

It will be understood that the above-described control system ispresented by way of example and that a great variety of modifications asto electrical components and circuitry can readily be made.

A processing machine according to the invention, particularly when usedfor decatizing and related finishing purposes, is superior to the knownmachines of this general type in various respects. Of particularsignificance is the possibility of a fully continuous operation affordedby virtue of the fact that multi-layer windings are placed upon thedecatizing cylinders at a considerably greater travel speed of thematerial than heretofore applicable. In contrast thereto, the knowndecatizing machines require prolonged periods of standstill for arelatively large number of cylinders to receive single-layer windings inorder; to attain the required decatizing period of time.

Machines according to the invention are particularly well suitable forcontinuously operating finishing plants as desired in modern textilemanufacture. A single decatizing machine of this type can take care ofthe entire production of a cloth producing mill heretofore requiring anumber of individual decatizing machines. In addition, the decatizing orshrinkage effect achieved in a machine according to the invention, isreliably and uniformly good because each cylinder receives severalwinding layers and these layers are firmly pressed against each other.

The invention further affords a considerable saving with respect toenergy consumption and reduction of working time, particularly onaccount of the fully automatic performance obtainable. The use of theabovementioned sensors or pulse transmitters, such as photoelectriccells, for automatically switching the various machine components,including the cylinder drives, the fold-forming pusher members, thegripper and holding devices, and the cooling cylinder, secures a highlyuniform steaming or other finishing effect without imposing any exactingdemands upon the skill or attention of the attending personnel. For suchperformance it is essential that the switching operations be properlysequenced so that the continuous passage of the material to be processedis nowhere disturbed or interrupted within the machine. Such areliability of control can readily be secured with electrical means asdescribed above, although hydraulic or other control devices known forfabricating machinery in general are likewise applicable.

Machines according to the invention are applicable also for condensing,polymerizing, impregnating, dyeing and other finishing operations ofvarious textiles. For the finishing processes just mentioned, theoperation is in most cases performed without cover webs. Suitable asprocessing media are particularly hot air, if desired with an additionof chemicals or other gaseous or liquid media which may be added, forexample, by spraying or injection into the flow of air or steam suppliedto the perforated drums.

When using a machine according to the invention for the condensing ofsynthetic resinous plastics in textile materials, it is preferable toplace a bath-containing vessel in front or the machine entrance gap,'thevessel being 7 provided with the liquid synthetic material. The web ofgrease-r material being processed. This has the advantage that the bathof synthetic plastic, since it need not contain a catalyst, remainsapplicable fora much longer period or" time than with the knowncondensation processes.

. Upon a study of this disclosure'it will be obviousto those skilled inthe art that era invention permits of various modifications beyond thoseparticularly illustrated and described herein without departing from theessential features o f our invention and within the scope of the claimsannexed herctd' We claim: 7 Z i v i 1. A machine for finishing textilematerials, comprising two cylinders spaced from each other androtatable-about lectivestatidnary axes, said cylinders being perforatedan tl an; pieces-nag mecliurri through the perforations, drive meansconnected to said respective cylinders and adapted fdr al= ternatclyrotatingone and then the other of said respective cylinders in thewinding-up sense while each time the remaining cylinder is rotatable inthe unwinding sense,

means defininga feed path for textile material to be processed, twodevices for attaching the material to the one of said cylinders thatrotates in the winding-up sense at a time, said devices comprising twopusher members having respective fold forming edges parallel to saidrespective cylinder axes and normally located on opposite sidesrespectively of said path, said members being alternately movabletoward, said path and toward said I respective cylinders for passingeach time a fold of the material'onto said one cylinder. V r a Z: Amachine for fini'shing textile materials, comprising two cylinderss'pae'd from each other and rotatable about.

rcspective stationary axes, said cylinders being perforated on thecylindrical surface and having means for passing processing mediumthrough the perforations, drive means connected to said respectivecylindersand adapted for al- V I ternately rotating one and then theother of said respective cylinders in the winding up. sense while eachtime there r ca surrae and having means for passing as W . essed, twodevices for attaching the material to the one of 'said cylinders thatrotates in the windg-up sense at a time,

each of said devices comprising a normally inactive foldforming membermovable toward said one cylinder from the opposite side of the materialto thereby move a fold of the material toward the cylinder, and each ofsaid de- 'vices further comprising normally inactive gripper meansmovable toward said cylinder for gripping the fold and normally inactiveholding means movable toward said cylinder for holding the foldedmaterial against the cylinder peripheral surface until'a turn ofmaterial is wound upon the cylinder; each or said cylinders having drivemeans and each of saiddevices having actuator means; and a controlsystem connected to said' drive means and actuator means and havingsequencing means for operating said drive means and actuator means in agiven periodic sequence.

r 4. a machine according to claim 3,said control systern comprisingreversing switch means in controlling connectidn' with said actuatormeans, switch means connected to said drive rrians for controlling thelatter for winding 6. In a'machine according sensing means responsive'togiven winding condtions of the material for monitoring said controlsystem.

5.- In a machine according to claim 3, said fold-forming membercomprising a blade member having a fold-formnigedge parallel to the axesof said cylinders, and guide means extending in a substantiallytangential direction of one of said respective cylinders, said blademember being displaceable in said guide means toward and away. from saidonelcylinder, and the respective guide means of said two blade inembersforming respective displacement guide ways'intersecting'each other. 7 I

i to claim 3, said gripper means comprising an endless flexible beltdisplaceable radially'toward and from said one cylinder for pressingthetextile' material against thecylinder when the belt is displacedtoward the cylinder 7.111s machine according to'claiin 3, said holdingmeans for each of said cylinders comprising a plurality of trough-shapedsegments peripherally distributed about said ahead of said cylinders,two devices for attaching the .webcovered material to the oneof'saidcylinders that rotates in the winding-up sense at'a time, saiddevices comprising two pusher members having respective fold-formingedges parallel to said respective cylinder axes 'and normally located onopposite sides of saidfced path near said point, said members beingalternately movable toward said path away'thcretrom.

cylinder-and movable radially against said-cylinder and 8. A machineaccording to claim3, comprising controllable valve means connected withsaid respective cylinders for admitting processing medium thereto, saidvalve means means connected to said cylinders for supplying hotdecatizing medium, and a cooling 'zone located behind said cylinders,said feedpath extcnding from said cylinders through said cooling zonefor cooling the material dec- 10. Ina machine according to claim 9, saidcooling zone comprising a rotatably driven cooling cylinder havand saidrespective cylinders for passing each time a Webcovered fold of thematerial onto said onecyl indcr. 1

3. A machine for finishing textile materials,'comprising twocylindersspaced from each other and rotatable about respectivestationary axes, said cylinders being perforated.

connected to said respective cylinders and adapted for al-,

ternately rotating one and then the other of said respective.

cylinders in the winding-up sense while each time the remaining cylinderis rotatable in the unwinding sense, means defining a feed path fortextile materialto be proc- 'Ecterences Cited by the Examiner aVVUNITEDSTATES PATENTS 994,075 5/11 Gessncr es s 2,670,622 3/54Dourdeville 68-8 WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

1. A MACHINE FOR FINISHING TEXTILE MATERIAL, COMPRISNG TWO CYLINDERSSPACED FROM EACH OTHER AND ROTATABLE ABOUT RESPECTIVE STATIONARY AXES,SAID CYLINDERS BEING PERFORATED ON THE CYLINDRICAL SURFACE AND HAVINGMEANS FOR PASSING PROCESSING MEDIUM THROUGH THE PERFORATIONS, DRIVEMEANS CONNECTED TO SAID RESPECTIVE CYLINDERS AND ADAPTED FOR ALTERNATELYROTATING ONE AND THEN THE OTHER OF SAID RESPECTIVE CYLINDERS IN THEWINDING-UP SENSE WHILE EACH TIME THE REMAINING CYLINDER IS ROTATABLE INTHE UNWINDING SENSE, MEANS DEFINING A FEED PATH FOR TEXTILE MATERIAL TOBE PROCESSED, TWO DEVICES FOR ATTACHING THE MATERIAL TO THE ONE OF SAIDCYLINDERS THAT ROTATES IN THE WINDING-UP SENSE AT A TIME, SAID DEVICECOMPRISING TWO PUSHER MEMBERS HAVING RESPECTIVE FOLD-FORMING EDGESPARALLEL TO SAID RESPECTIVE CYLINDER AXES AND NORMALLY LOCATED ONOPPOSITE SIDES RESPECTIVELY OF SAID PATH, SAID MEMBERS BEING ALTERNATELYMOVABLE TOWARD SAID PATH, AND TOWARD SAID RESPECTIVE CYLINDERS FORPASSING EACH TIME A FOLD OF THE MATERIAL ONTO SAID ONE CYLINDER.